Towel holder

ABSTRACT

A towel holder to assist with the dispensing of towels (e.g., reusable or disposable) includes a bottom wall, and a tubular body extending from the bottom wall, defining a central vertical axis, and includes: a first end supported on the bottom wall, a second end, a cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second end to the bottom wall, and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall, wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the release channel such that the release channel prevents remaining towels from unraveling.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/158,186, filed on May 7, 2015, theentire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to towel dispenser assemblies,and more particularly, to a progressive release multiple reusable towelholder for reusable towels to be pulled therefrom preventing undesiredtowel unraveling.

2. Background of the Disclosure

Paper towels are the number one choice when it comes to cleaning,soaking up spills, dusting, and polishing. The main reason why papertowels are used most is their convenience and bulk in numbers. They arealways right there on the counter top ready to be pulled one by one offthe roll, used, and then thrown away. Sadly, millions of paper towelsare thrown away every year when a reusable cloth towel or micro fibertowel could have been used instead. Typically a single dish towel mightbe at arm's reach but for some reason seldom is used. Paper toweldispensers can be used to facilitate the release of disposable papertowel rolls and its kind, but towel dispensers are not configured to beused with reusable towels. Additionally, the use of disposable papertowel in general adds waste and it can become expensive for anyhousehold. This is a particular burdensome, for example, with respect toan average household, who are looking to save some money or just to useless paper. Therefore, there is a need for a device and method toeffectively dispense a plurality of towels.

SUMMARY

Provided in accordance with the present disclosure is a progressiverelease multiple reusable towel holder (hereinafter “towel holder”)including a bottom wall, and a tubular body extending from the bottomwall, defining a central vertical axis, and including a first endsupported on the bottom wall, a second end, a cylindrical cavity withinthe tubular body extending from the second end to the bottom wall, and arelease channel extending vertically along the tubular body and taperingfrom the second end towards the bottom wall, wherein when a towel from aplurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the releasechannel, the release channel prevents remaining towels from unraveling.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the towel holder geometric shapemay be of any kind including but not limited to cylindrical,rectangular, octagonal, or triangular. Additionally, the towel holdermay be constructed from any rigid and/or semi rigid material orcombinations thereof. Examples can include but are not limited to alltypes of rigid or semi rigid plastics including 3D printing, all metals,stainless steel or any type of steel, copper, aluminum, etc., glass,plexi-glass, acrylic, all forms of ceramics or pottery, all forms ofstone, marble, granite, etc., all wood products, rigid or semi rigidpaper products, card board, and wire or metal frame.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, in some embodimentsthe towel holder may resemble a paper towel roll; these may be desirablewhen using any paper towel dispenser, transporting, or storing the towelholder. For example, when transporting, the towel holder can betransported implementing a method of any kind used to transport anypaper towel roll. When storing, the towel holder may be stored using thesame type of shelving used to store any paper towel roll. Furthermore,when sold in a retail stores, the tower holder may be placed in anysimilar display/shelf used for paper tower rolls.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a section of the releasechannel adjacent to the second end tapers at rate greater than a sectionof the release channel adjacent to the bottom wall.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the release channel hasa substantially V shape tapering from the second end.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the release channeldefines a channel contour having a left transition portion and a righttransition portions, where in the left transition portion and righttransition portion are rounded.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the channel contour canhave sharp edges.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom wall has acircular opening defining a plane perpendicular to the central verticalaxis.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the tubular bodydefines a tubular configuration of rigid construction.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the second end isconfigured to receive an end cap having an end cap opening.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap releasablyattached to the second end is configured to fit between a double paddletowel holder.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap defines anend cap contour being intersected by an end cap cutout at two pointstherein.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the towel can beremoved through an opening at the bottom wall and the end cap openingwith the remaining towels unraveled or undisturbed.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap mayinclude a cap cutout. The cap cutout may be of any shape and may assistthe user to pull at least one towel away from the cavity when the endcap is covering the towel holder.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap may befabricated of a similar material and/or have a similar shape as thetowel holder.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the end cap may beused in combination with any towel dispense.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the towel holder mayinclude a plurality of towels, and/or a magnetic bracket, and/or alaundry bag.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a towel dispense system ispresented including the towel, towel holder including, the bottom wall,a tubular body extending from the bottom wall defines a central verticalaxis. The tubular body includes a first end supported on the bottomwall, the second end, the cylindrical cavity within the tubular bodyextending from the second end to the bottom wall, and a release channelextending vertically along the tubular body and tapering from the secondend towards the bottom wall, wherein when the towel from a plurality oftowels within cavity, is removed through release channel, releasechannel prevents towels from unraveling or being disturbed.

In another aspect of the present disclosure a method for storing andremoving a towel is presented, which includes: providing a towel holderhaving the bottom wall, and tubular body extending from the bottom wall,defining the central vertical axis, and having the first end supportedon the bottom wall, the second end, the cylindrical cavity within thetubular body extending from the second end to bottom wall, and a releasechannel extending vertically along the tubular body and tapering fromsecond end towards the bottom wall, wherein when a towel from aplurality of towels within the cavity, is removed through the releasechannel, the release channel prevents the towels from unraveling. Next,folding a plurality of stacked towels by their middle line, and storingthe plurality of stacked towels within towel holder, and removing atowel away from towel holder and out of cavity through release channelpreventing inadvertent towel unraveling. The holder is also designed tobe used with standard rolls of disposable paper towels. The releasechannel is also designed to allow for a single disposable paper towel tobe dispensed and cleanly torn or separated from the rest of the roll.

The towel holder may further include any of the aspects and/or featuresof the other towel holder detailed hereinabove or hereinbelow, and viceversa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects and features of the present disclosure are describe herein withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a towel holder provided in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the towel holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an end cap provided in accordance to thepresent disclosure; and

FIGS. 8A-15 illustrate methods of use associated to the towel holder ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsidentify similar or identical elements. In the following description,well known functions or constructions are not described in detail toavoid obscuring the present disclosure. To the extent consistent, any ofthe aspects and/or features of any of the embodiments detailed hereinmay be used in conjunction with any of the aspects and/or features ofany of the other embodiments detailed herein.

Turning to FIG. 1, a progressive release multiple reusable towel holder(hereinafter “towel holder”) provided in accordance with the presentdisclosure is generally identified by reference numeral 10. Towel holder10 is presented including a bottom wall 20, and a tubular body 30extending from the bottom wall 20, defining a central vertical axis 31.The tubular body 30 includes a first end 32 supported on the bottom wall20, an open second end 34 (hereinafter “second end”), a cylindricalcavity 33 within the tubular body 30 extending from the second end 34 tothe bottom wall 20, and a release channel 40 extending vertically alongthe tubular body 30 and tapering from the second end 34 towards thebottom wall 20, wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels withinthe cavity 33, is removed through the release channel 40, thelongitudinal extending release channel 40 (hereinafter “releasechannel”) prevents remaining towels from unraveling or being disturbed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, bottom wall 20 of towel holder 10 mayinclude a circular opening 21 may define a plane 22 perpendicular to thecentral vertical axis 31. Circular opening 21 is configured to receiveany kind of shaft therein and along the central vertical axis 31. Bottomwall 20 may enable towel holder 10 to be used in conjunction with mostpaper towel dispensers or for standalone use. Additionally, bottom wall20 can be configured to be used with any kind of towel (paper,microfiber, dishcloth, terrycloth, peshtamal, etc.). For example, insome embodiments circular opening 21 may facilitate fitting of the towelholder 10 into paper towel dispersers having a shaft or rod and/orfacilitate rotation of the towel holder 10 with respect to the centralaxis 31. In embodiments, bottom wall 20 may be used in conjunction withtowel holders having paddles at opposite ends.

When placed on a horizontal surface, bottom wall 20 of towel holder 10may include features to keep towel holder 10 in place. Bottom wall 20maybe heavier than tubular body 30 to assist with stability of towelholder 10. For example, when placed on a counter top, bottom wall 20 mayrestrict or reduce displacement of towel holder 10 while a user pullsthe towel away from the central axis 31 through release channel 40.Additionally, bottom wall 20 may include any elastomeric device orelement to provide suction or increased friction in order to securetowel holder 10 to a counter top or the like. For example, dome shapedsuction cups of any kind can be fitted on bottom wall 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1, and 4-6, tubular body 30 defines a tubularconfiguration of rigid construction having first end 32 supported on andextending from bottom wall 20, wherein the tubular body 30 definescavity 33, the open second end 34, the longitudinal axis 31, and a cutout or longitudinally extending release channel 40.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, towel holder 10 may be of any kind of shapeincluding but not limited to: cylindrical, rectangular, octagonal, ortriangular. For example, in some embodiments the towel holder 10 mayresemble a paper towel roll; these may be a desired configuration whenusing any paper towel dispenser, transporting, or storing the towelholder 10. For example, when transporting, towel holder 10 can betransported implementing a method of any kind used to transport anypaper towel roll. When storing, towel holder 10 may be stored using thesame type of shelving used to store any paper towel roll. Furthermore,when sold in a retail stores, the tower holder 10 may be place in anysimilar display/shelf used for paper tower rolls.

Additionally, towel holder 10 may be constructed from any rigid and/orsemi rigid material or combinations thereof. Examples can include butare not limited to: All types of rigid or semi rigid materialsincluding, all metals, stainless steel or any type of steel, copper,aluminum, etc., glass, plexi-glass, acrylic, all forms of ceramics orpottery, all forms of stone, marble, granite, etc., all wood products,rigid or semi rigid paper products, card board, and wire or metal frame.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, release channel 40 of towel holder 10may include a first section 42 adjacent to second end 34 tapering at arate greater than a second section 44 of the release channel 40 adjacentto the bottom wall 20. Release channel 40 may enable the user to isolateand pull therethrough a towel away from a plurality of towels, and thecentral axis 31.

Release channel 40 may include but is not limited to a tapered,substantially V-shaped profile. In some embodiments the release channelmay originate at the open second end 34 tapering from a relative wideopening at the first section into a relative narrow or shallow openingat the second section towards bottom wall 20. Release channel 40 extendslongitudinally tapering at the open second end 34 towards first end 32defining a channel contour 41. It is also contemplated that channelcontour 41 may have different shapes, such as wave, zig-zag andactuated.

Further, channel contour 41 of release channel 40 may be configured, inpart or absolute, to include sharp and/or round edges or a combinationof both.

Channel contour 41 of release channel 40 may be reduced or increasefriction forces between the towel and towel holder 10. For example, whenpulling a towel away from the plurality of towels, it may be desired toconstruct release channel 40 with the relative wide opening and therelative shallow or narrow opening as described above, where channelcontour 41 at the first portion 42 (FIG. 6) may include rounded edges toreduce friction forces between the towel and the towel holder 10, andthe second portion 44 may include sharp edges to increase a frictionforce between the towel and the towel holder 10. Additionally, channelcontour 41 may include a left transition portion 46 and a righttransition portion 48 wherein the left transition portion 46 and righttransition portion 48 may be rounded.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 9 and 10, cavity 33 of towel holder 10 may beconfigured to receive the plurality of towels by the open second end 34along central axis 31. Thereafter, the plurality of towels and bottomwall 32 may be in contact with one another. The plurality of towels canbe a plurality of reusable towels or a plurality of disposable towels.While in use, a plurality of towels may be configured to fit in towelholder 10 within cavity 33 (FIGS. 9-10) and the open second end 34 maybe configured to a reasonable size wide enough to enable reload of aplurality or stack of towels which are folded along a mid-line thereof.

In use with the plurality of towels within cavity 33, the user may leadthe pulling of the towel away from central axis 31 by selecting atowel's edge located near the second open end 34. Next, the user maybegin to remove the towel through release channel 40 relative to firstsection 42 leading towards second section 44 (FIG. 11). Further, theuser releases the towel out of cavity 33 with the remaining towelsunraveled.

Referring to FIG. 7, an end cap 50 may be presented along for use withtowel holder 10. End cap 50 may be fabricated of a similar materialand/or have a relatively similar shape as towel holder 10. In someembodiments, the end cap 50 may include a midpoint end cap opening 51(hereinafter “end cap opening”) and it may be constructed to have ashape relatively similar to bottom opening 21 so a conduit may extendtherethrough and along central longitudinal axis 31 to assist withstability and/or rotation of towel holder 10, and/or enable concentricrotation of a towel roll within towel holder 10 with respect to cavity33.

End cap 50 may include a cap cutout 52 and a cap edge 54. With respectto cutout 52, cutout 52 may be constructed of any geometric shape andenable access to the plurality of towels stored within cavity 33. Capedge 54 may be intersected by end cap cutout 52 at two points therein.For example, cap cutout 52 may define an arc on cap edge 54 enabling theuser to have access to any towel from the plurality of towels withincavity 33.

Additionally, end cap 50 and towel holder 10 may be used along with anytowel holder dispenser. For example, end cap 50 may be used incombination with a dual paddle holder style dispenser. When in use, theend cap 50 may be fitted and/or releasably attached to the towel holder10 at the open second end 34, and may be placed within the dual paddletowel holder. This may be achieved by engaging towel holder 10 to thedual paddle holder using the bottom opening 21 and cap opening 51 whilein coaxial alignment with central axis 31. The dual paddle holder mayhave a pair of paddles located at opposite ends of dual paddle holder.The user may fit bottom opening 21 and cap opening 51 between dualpaddle holder. Additionally, end cap 51 opening and/or bottom opening 21may enable the user to pull the towel away for the plurality of towelsand along the central axis 31 therethrough preventing undesired towelunraveling. In aspects, end cap 50 may be pressure fitted into opensecond or vice versa. Towel holder 10 may be configured to have alocking mechanism to keep the end cap 50 in place and further restrictits movement. Thus, the additional function of being able to alter endcap 50 to use in combination with towel holder 10 is realized.

Furthermore, the plurality of towels, and/or a magnetic bracket, and/ora laundry bag may be used along with towel holder 10. With respect tothe plurality of towels, for some retailers/distributors it may bedesired to include the plurality of towels along with the towel holder10 for commercial purposes. With respect to the magnetic bracket, whenusing towel holder 10 on a metallic surface, towel holder 10 may includethe magnetic bracket to enable mounting of the same in any position.With respect to the laundry bag, the user may store one or multipletowels during washing and drying of the plurality of towels, thus makingan easy retrieval of clean towels ready for stacking.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-15, a method of using towel holder 10 (FIG. 1) torelease a towel “T” away of a plurality or stack of towels “T_(x)”,preventing unraveling, is detailed. FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 11-15 illustrate ascenario where the user may first stack the plurality of towels “T_(x)”onto one another, next fold the stack of towel “T_(x)” in half bybringing the plurality of towels “T_(x)” together along a midline “M”therebetween, bend then apply some radial force to squeeze the stackedand folded towels or a cylinder like configuration may be formed.Further, the user may slide stacked and folded towels “T_(x)” into thecavity 33 (FIG. 9) of towel holder 10 with the edges of the towelsfacing towards the back of towel holder 10, and peripherally or radiallyalign the mid-line (or fold line) of the plurality of towels “T_(x)”along the release channel (FIG. 10). Thereafter, a user mayindependently pull an outer-most towel “T”, of the stack of foldedtowels, through release channel 40 (FIG. 11), to remove a toweltherefrom. The user may repeat the independent pulling of a followingtowel “T”, from the remaining stacked and folded towels “T_(x)”,preventing undesired towel unraveling of the remaining towels “T_(x)”.After all of the plurality of towels “T_(x)” are pulled away of thetowel holder 10 the user may place a new plurality of reusable towels“T_(x)” or disposable towels within the cavity 33 of towel holder 10

(FIG. 15) and may follow the above mentioned method with any pluralityof towels “T_(x)”.

It will be understood that various modifications could be made to theembodiments of the above disclosure. Therefore, the present descriptionshould not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications ofembodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modificationswithin the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A towel holder comprising; a bottom wall; and atubular body extending from the bottom wall, defining a central verticalaxis, and including: a first end supported on the bottom wall; a secondend; a cylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from thesecond end to the bottom wall; and a release channel extendingvertically along the tubular body and tapering from the second endtowards the bottom wall, wherein when a towel from a plurality of towelswithin the cavity, is removed through the release channel, the releasechannel prevents remaining towels from unraveling.
 2. The towel holderaccording to claim 1, wherein a first section of the release channel,adjacent to the second end, tapers at rate greater than a second sectionof the release channel adjacent to the bottom wall.
 3. The towel holderaccording to claim 1, wherein the release channel has a substantiallyV-shape of tapering from the second end to the first end.
 4. The towelholder of claim 1, wherein the release channel defines a channel contourhaving a left transition portion and a right transition portion, whereineach of the left transition portion and right transition portion arerounded.
 5. The towel holder of claim 4, wherein the channel contourincludes sharp edges.
 6. The towel holder of claim 1, wherein the bottomwall has a circular opening formed therein, and wherein the bottom walldefines a plane perpendicular to the central vertical axis.
 7. The towelholder of claim 1, wherein the plurality of towels are a roll of papertowels.
 8. The towel holder of claim 1, wherein the tubular body definesa tubular configuration.
 9. The towel holder of claim 1, furthercomprising an end cap having an end cap opening formed therein, whereinthe second end is configured to receive the end cap.
 10. The towelholder of claim 9, wherein the end cap defines an end cap edge beingintersected by an end cap cutout at two points therein.
 11. The towelholder of claim 9, wherein the towel of the plurality of towels isremoved from the towel holder through the release channel and throughthe end cap opening with the remaining towels unraveled.
 12. A toweldispenser system, comprising: a towel; a towel holder including: abottom wall; and a tubular body extending from the bottom wall anddefining a central vertical axis, the tubular body including: a firstend supported on the bottom wall; a second end; a cylindrical cavitywithin the tubular body extending from the second end to the bottomwall; and a release channel extending vertically along the tubular bodyand tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall, wherein whenthe towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, is removedthrough the release channel, the release channel prevents remainingtowels from unraveling.
 13. The towel dispenser system according toclaim 12, wherein said release channel includes a first section,adjacent to the second end, tapering at rate greater than a secondsection of the release channel adjacent to the bottom wall.
 14. Thetowel dispenser system according to claim 12 wherein said releasechannel includes a substantially V-shape tapering from the second end tothe first end and defines a channel contour having a left transitionportion and a right transition portion, wherein each of the lefttransition portion and the right transition portion are rounded.
 15. Thetowel dispenser system according to claim 14, wherein said channelcontour includes sharp edges.
 16. The towel dispenser system accordingto claim 12, wherein said tubular body is a tubular configuration and islighter than the bottom wall.
 17. The towel dispenser system accordingof claim 12, further comprising an end cap having an end cap opening andan end cap cutout formed therein, wherein the second end is configuredto receive the end cap.
 18. The towel dispenser system according toclaim 12, wherein the towel of the plurality of towels is removed fromthe towel holder through the release channel and through the end capopening with the remaining towels unraveled.
 19. A method for storingand pulling a towel from a stack of towels, the method comprising: (a)providing a towel holder including: a bottom wall; and a tubular bodyextending from the bottom wall, defining a central vertical axis, andincluding: a first end supported on the bottom wall; a second end; acylindrical cavity within the tubular body extending from the second endto the bottom wall; and a release channel extending vertically along thetubular body and tapering from the second end towards the bottom wall;wherein when a towel from a plurality of towels within the cavity, isremoved through the release channel, the release channel preventsremaining towels from unraveling; (b) folding a plurality of stackedtowels by their middle line; (c) storing the plurality of stacked andfolded towels within the towel holder; and (d) removing a towel awayfrom towel holder and out of the cavity through the release channelpreventing inadvertent towel unraveling.
 20. The towel holder of claim1, wherein a paper towel is pulled thought the release channel andcleanly torn against it and away from the roll of paper towels avoidingtowel unraveling.